Military families told to leave Fort Monroe's storm-damaged housing

Tolson said one neighbor, a Marine, moved in and signed a new contract last week, just two days before the town meeting.

Christina Blakely, whose husband Maurice is in the military police and has served in Iraq, said her lease in the Wherry apartments expired in July and she went on a month-to-month lease. She's been told verbally by the real estate management her lease will terminate at the end of the month, even though she's not received a letter asking her to leave.

Blakely said she has been in her home for about two years and there has been damp spots on the roof and cracked walls in all that time.

"To blame it on the hurricane is just wrong," said Blakely.

She said she had maintenance problems with her roof in 2010 but the authority never came out to repair it.

The Fort Monroe Authority has been the landlord of the apartments, which are still owned by the Army, owned, since August 2010. Oder, who took over on Sept. 1, said it was clear some of the issues predated the hurricane, but he said he was not in a position to comment on past actions.

"The concern of the FMA is for the safety of the people who live here … it would be irresponsible if we did not address that. We are evaluating every family on a case-by-case basis to provide a healthy and safe living environment," said Oder.

Some families who have problems moving could be relocated in homes in the Wherry Quarter with less serious problems. However Oder said it's clear the Wherry housing is "approaching the end of its useful life."

Oder said the authority is waiving the deposit on military families who move elsewhere in Monroe and offering the first month rent free. The authority also says military families will benefit from the Basic Allowance for Housing that's available them, meaning other base housing will be cheaper than the market rent, but more expensive than the Wherry housing.

An Army representative was unavailable for comment Wednesday afternoon.